Dictionary of nutrition

From WikiMD's medical encyclopedia

The Dictionary of Nutrition is a comprehensive guide that encompasses a wide range of terms, concepts, and nutrients important for human health, diet, and the science of nutrition.

A

  • Amino acids - Organic compounds that combine to form proteins, often referred to as the building blocks of proteins.
  • Antioxidants - Molecules that fight free radicals in the body, which can damage cells if their levels become too high.

B

  • Biotin - A B-vitamin that is vital for the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
  • Body mass index (BMI) - A measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.

C

  • Caloric intake - The total number of calories consumed from foods and beverages in a given period.
  • Carbohydrates - Sugars, starches, and fibers found in fruits, grains, vegetables, and milk products.

D

  • Dietary fiber - Found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, dietary fiber is known for its ability to prevent or relieve constipation.
  • Dietitian - An expert in dietetics; that is, human nutrition and the regulation of diet.

E

  • Electrolytes - Minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge, important for hydration and maintaining the body's pH level.

F

  • Fatty acids - Carboxylic acids with long aliphatic chains, which can be either saturated or unsaturated, and are an important component of lipids in the human body.
  • Food pyramid - A pyramid-shaped guide of healthy foods divided into sections to show the recommended intake for each food group.

G

  • Glycemic index - A value assigned to foods based on how slowly or how quickly those foods cause increases in blood glucose levels.
  • Gluten - A mixture of two proteins present in cereal grains, especially wheat, which is responsible for the elastic texture of dough.

H

  • Herbal supplements - Products made from botanicals, or plants, that are used to treat diseases or to maintain health.
  • Hydration - The process of causing something to absorb water. In nutrition, it refers to maintaining a balance of fluids in the body.

I

  • Iron - A mineral that the body needs for growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells.

J

  • Juicing - The process of extracting the juices from fruits and vegetables, often used as a means to detoxify the body or as a nutritional supplement.

K

  • Ketogenic diet - A high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control epilepsy in children.

L

  • Lactose intolerance - A disorder where the body cannot easily digest lactose, a type of natural sugar found in milk and dairy products.

M

  • Macronutrients - Substances required in relatively large amounts by living organisms, including carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

N

  • Nutrient density - A measure of the nutrients provided by a food relative to its calorie content.
  • Nutritional genomics - A science studying the relationship between human genome, nutrition, and health.

O

  • Omega-3 fatty acids - Essential fats that you must get from your diet. They have important benefits for your heart, brain, and metabolism.

P

  • Probiotics - Live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system.
  • Protein - Molecules composed of amino acids, arranged in a linear chain and folded into a globular form.

Q

  • Quinoa - An edible seed that has become increasingly popular among health-conscious consumers for its high protein content.

R

  • Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) - The daily dietary intake level of a nutrient considered sufficient by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences to meet the requirements of nearly all (97-98%) healthy individuals in each life-stage and gender group.

S

  • Saturated fat - A type of dietary fat which is typically solid at room temperature.
  • Sodium - An essential mineral that your body needs to function properly, but too much sodium can lead to health issues like high blood pressure.

T

  • Trans fat - A type of dietary fat that has been shown to raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels.

U

  • Unsaturated fat - A fat or fatty acid in which there is at least one double bond within the fatty acid chain. They are typically liquid at room temperature.

V

  • Veganism - A type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, eggs, dairy products, and all other animal-derived ingredients.
  • Vitamins - Organic compounds that are essential for normal growth and nutrition and are required in small quantities in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body.

W

  • Water-soluble vitamins - Vitamins that dissolve in water and are not stored by the body. They include vitamin C and the B vitamins.

X

Note: X is often not used as a starting character for nutrition terms, so this section is typically not included in a standard dictionary.

Y

  • Yogurt - A food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk, rich in protein and calcium, and has been associated with several health benefits.

Z

  • Zinc - A nutrient that people need to stay healthy. Zinc is found in cells throughout the body and is needed for the body's immune system to properly work.

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD